New to the Library: New York Amsterdam News

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I’m delighted to let you know that following a successful trial in 2017/18 the Library has now purchased access to the New York Amsterdam News (1922-1993) from ProQuest Historical Newspapers. Founded in 1909 this is one of the leading Black newspapers of the 20th century and the oldest and largest Black newspaper in New York City.

You can access New York Amsterdam News (1922-1993) via the Databases A-Z list and Newspapers & Magazines database list. You can also access the title through DiscoverEd*

The Amsterdam News was founded over 100 years ago by James H. Anderson and was named after the street where he lived and where the first issues were produced and sold. It was one of only 50 Black newspapers in the United States at that time.

From front page of New York Amsterdam News, Saturday, December 15, 1945.

The newspaper became a prominent voice for black Americans, it was a strong advocate for the desegregation of the U.S. military during World War II, and also covered the Harlem Renaissance. From the 1950s and 60s onwards it gave dedicated support to the civil rights movement in America.

Over the years several prominent African Americans have written for the Amsterdam News including Malcolm X, W.E.B. Du Bois, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. and Roy Wilkins.

Screenshot of ‘God’s Angry Men’ by Malcolm X from New York Amsterdam News, Saturday, April 27, 1957, p. 18.

New York Amsterdam News from ProQuest allows you to search and browse issues from 1922-1993. Issues have been scanned from cover to cover so you also get to see advertisements, photographs and illustrations, obituaries, etc.

Access New York Amsterdam News (1922-1993) via the Databases A-Z list and Newspapers & Magazines database list. You can also access the title through DiscoverEd*

*Unfortunately due to various slight name changes over the years and different editions there are 6 separate entries for the Amsterdam News on DiscoverEd.

It’s probably easier to just access New York Amsterdam News from the Databases A-Z list or Newspapers & Magazines database list as this gives you access to the full collection (all editions, all titles, etc.)

The Library has access to a large number of newspaper and magazine (periodical) archives and you can access these from the Newspapers & Magazines database list.

Access is only available to current students and staff at the University of Edinburgh.

Caroline Stirling – Academic Support Librarian for History, Classics and Archaeology

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